This Keto Monte Cristo Breakfast Casserole is perfect to make ahead for busy mornings or even a fancy brunch with friends! This delicious low carb breakfast casserole hits all my favorite sweet and salty notes!
Typically a Monte Cristo is a ham and Gruyere (or Swiss) cheese sandwich that is then dipped in french toast batter and fried. The cool twist on it is that it’s served with warm maple syrup – so it hits all of the salty and sweet notes that I love.
Since my popular keto cream cheese pancakes recipe tastes so much like french toast, I thought it would make the perfect stand in for the bread portion in this Keto Monte Cristo Breakfast Casserole. To keep it easy, I layered all of the ingredients and baked it like a casserole.
Once baked, you simply pour on the warmed sugar free syrup, which soaks into all of the layers. You can serve with additional syrup if you choose.
I particularly like Canadian bacon in this recipe because it’s much heartier and more substantial in texture than deli ham, but just as convenient! I definitely recommend trying it with the Canadian bacon if you can get it.
Because I love a runny egg on almost anything, I also added a poached egg to the top of mine – it was total breakfast bliss. The egg is optional, but I personally will take the egg every time. It’s amazing.
My suggestion is to make this Keto Monte Cristo Breakfast Casserole ahead of time and cut into portions. Then when you are reheating the leftovers, simply poach or fry an egg or two that morning to have with it.
If you are short on time or aren’t a fan of eggs, this Keto Monte Cristo Breakfast Casserole can also be enjoyed cold if you need breakfast or lunch on the go! Because of the cheese it holds together well and can literally be eaten with your hands and a napkin on your way out the door or even in the car.
Mr. Hungry and Hungry Jr. also really liked this low carb casserole recipe – it will be a staple at our house for the next few months at least. Hope you guys like it too – look for it on an upcoming Keto Menu Plan!
Keto Monte Cristo Breakfast Casserole
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
Description
This Keto Monte Cristo Breakfast Casserole makes a delicious low carb breakfast with all the sweet and salty flavors of the classic Monte Cristo sandwich!
Ingredients
- 3 batches cream cheese pancakes
- 12 oz Canadian bacon
- 1 1/2 cups shredded Gruyere or Swiss cheese
- 1/3 cup Sugar Free Pancake Syrup, warmed.
Instructions
- Grease a 9 x 9 baking dish and place a layer of 4 cream cheese pancakes on the bottom and halfway up the sides.
- Add a layer of Canadian Bacon, then sprinkle with 1/2 cup of cheese.
- Repeat 2 more times until you have three layers – the top layer being the cheese.
- Bake at 375 degrees (F) for 15 minutes, or until heated through.
- Remove from the oven and pour the warm syrup evenly over the top.
- Cut into 6 squares and serve.
- Optional – top with a runny poached or fried egg and additional sugar free syrup.
Notes
Approx nutrition info per serving: 376 calories, 24g fat, 4.5g net carbs, 32g protein
For each egg if using: 80 calories, 6g fat, .5g net carbs, 6g protein
- Category: Keto Breakfast Recipe
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3.5 x 4 inch square
- Calories: 367
- Fat: 24g
- Carbohydrates: 4.5g net
- Protein: 32g
Jessica says
I love this! I added a tablespoon of sugar free raspberry jam and just a touch of swerve confectioners sugar and i felt like i was having the “real” thing!
★★★★★
Teri Renaud says
Love Monte Cristo’s, so glad I don’t have to give my fav’s when I change my eating habits.
★★★★
sonja adcock says
hi, i am going to make this recipe, but am wondering if you pre-cook the bacon. Also, you indicate you use canadian bacon….are you referring to back bacon or the regular strips of bacon? thank you
Diana says
Canadian bacon is more like ham than bacon. If you use regular bacon, pre-cook it to be still kind of soft.
jean leatherman says
I know this is an old recipe – but I’m pretty new to Keto. I’ve made it twice, and the first time I felt like I was living in my kitchen cooking pancakes. This time I poured the batter into silpat-lined sheet pans and baked them at 350 for about 10 minutes (I think??)…then cut them to size to fit in my 9×9, and baked it off. Absolutely delicious!
★★★★★
Robyn says
I’m excited to make this, but I’ve never used Canadian bacon before – does it have to be cooked first, or is the 15 minutes in the oven enough?
Rachal H. says
This is delicious!!!!!! I highly recommend it.
★★★★★
Shannon says
What is the carb count before subtracting fiber?
Tara says
To die for! I’ve been following meal plans 1 through 4 and this is the best recipe of all! Can’t wait to have it again.
★★★★★
Kathleen Kelly says
This dish looks really good! Thank you for sharing!
Diana says
I’ve been making the pancakes on and off over vacation, but I’m going to need something transportable for work starting back up tomorrow, this looks like a great idea! I’ll probably alternate this and the spinach fritata since it’s part of the week 1 meal plan already
I also has a secret unholy love for Canadian bacon
Debby says
I found your delicious sounding recipe and want to try it for Christmas morning. I am planning on doubling the recipe… so when I look at the Cream Cheese Pancakes and multiply that by 6 it suggests 12 tsp Stevia (with one packet=2 tsp, according to CookingWithStevia.com). They recommend, tho, using only 1/2 tsp bulk Stevia Blends for every packet….. What would you do? Use the 12tsp Stevia straight conversion, or drop down to 3 tsp? That’s a big difference!
Mellissa Sevigny says
Straight stevia will be much sweeter than a blend so you’ll use much less of than you would the blended, which measures more like real sugar. If you are making six batches then try about 1 tsp of pure stevia, or 2 Tbsp of the blended. If you’re using them in the monte cristo casserole, you don’t want them super sweet anyway so this should get you where you need to be. Enjoy!
Debby says
Oh, thank you!
Jessica says
I am so glad I found this! First of all, the pancakes are such a huge treat for me right now since I’m not eating grains and this was just delicious. We all loved it. Can’t wait to use the pancake recipe again and make this again.
Jennifer says
You are a Godsend!! I have been missing Monte Cristo sandwhiches since being diagnosed with celiac. And I love the cream cheese pancakes even though i am not a pancake fan, they are fabulous and I use them as crepes.
Mellissa Sevigny says
Thanks Jennifer!!
Katherine says
The light in these photos (everything about these photos, actually) is amazing. I LOVE the one with the yolk coming out of the egg and the syrup coming down onto the egg. That one is really above and beyond.
Diane says
Wow! This was wonderful! I used to love the Monte Cristo. This has all the great flavors and more. i could serve this at a brunch and great rave reviews.
Thanks Melissa!
Back on track after two weeks of business travel. This recipe is a great way to Kick start the week.
Mellissa Sevigny says
Thanks so much Diane! This would be a perfect brunch recipe!
Victoria says
I cooked pheasant last night and exchanged it for the chicken, making your gravy with bacon, sage and cider gravy and your corn and bacon muffins. It was delicious. I did wonder about using the cider as it was so high in carbs but it was only 1/4 cup. We had your chocolate cupcakes with the pudding filling and whip cream. I didn’t have the sf toffee so I toasted sliced almonds in Splenda and stacked some on top. Thank you Melissa for your great recipes. I’m so excited to try all of them!!
Mellissa Sevigny says
Thanks so much Victoria! So glad you are enjoying the ezine recipes! And yes, the cider in minimal amounts can be worked into recipes – and it adds so much yummy flavor! Love pheasant but it’s hard to get around here – I’ll be it was delicious with that cider gravy! Yum!!!!
McDonna says
One more thing –
Would you kindly come up with a recipe for maple syrup, Melissa? I found one on another blog using birch xylitol (which does have a small number of carbs), stevia (the organic has no aftertaste or carbs) and xanthan gum. The flavor is really good, but the consistency is like gravy. Not very appetizing in appearance, although the taste is awesome. But I’m pretty sure you could tweak the recipe and kick it up to notches unknown! (And it doesn’t cost $11+! For syrup?! Yikes!)
After all, anyone who is twisted…er…talented enough to create an award-winning BACON CHOCOLATE CAKE could easily conquer maple syrup!
Thanks, Melissa! You’re the best.
Mellissa Sevigny says
I’ll see what I can do! Btw the syrup I linked to was just for example’s sake – you can get that same brand (it’s one of my faves) at walmart for about 2.99 a bottle!
Eric says
Sounds like if you just topped it with Hollandaise sauce and the egg instead of the maple syrup, there’s your Eggs Benedict. This sounds great, too, by the way. I used to LOVE Monte Cristos, and now I can again. Thank you!
Mellissa Sevigny says
True Eric! I’ve got some other ideas for a play on eggs benedict and as soon as I perfect it I’ll post it here too! Meanwhile I hope you enjoy this one as much as we did!
janet says
Could add some sugar free Raspberry jam to complete the illusion of a Monte Cristo.
The pancakes are very thin and could also be used as crepes – roll the ham & chees in them, then pour the sauce over. No need for extra eggs.
Mellissa Sevigny says
So many possible variations! Thanks Janet!
Janice Plemon says
I’m wondering if this dish would freeze well? Sounds delicious!
Mellissa Sevigny says
I haven’t tried it Janice but I don’t see why not! Let us know if you try it and if it works. I’ve frozen the pancakes and that’s always fine, so it should, in theory, work!
brooke says
Thats so funny, because the only thing I have “changed” on your meal plan is that some mornings I take two cream cheese pancakes, deli ham and swiss and roll them up and add a tablespoon of sugar free raspberry jam!!!! TASTY!!!
Mellissa Sevigny says
That DOES sound tasty Brooke – and super easy! I love salty and sweet together but never considered sugar free jam – definitely going to have to experiment with that soon!
Nancy Settel says
oh with a snow day today and I have everything here to make this I know what we are having for lunch!!! I have never not liked any of the recipes that I have tried. Always outstanding. Started back on my low carb diet with you maybe a few days later trying to cut out the Splenda as much as I have been using since it is such a slow go with weight loss and at first forcing myself to drink 100oz of water a day well okay that last quart is kind of a pain but willing to do it all to get this weight gone. Thank you for such beautiful recipes. nancy
Mellissa Sevigny says
Hi Nancy! Hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we all did – it’s definitely perfect snow day food! :) Sounds like you’re doing everything right – hang in there and keep us posted on your results!
Renee says
Amazing! I love anything with eggs and this sends it over the top. Can’t wait to try it.
Mellissa Sevigny says
It really is SO good and if you love eggs this is going to be right up your alley!